London, 15 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced £65 million in additional government funding for drought-hit farmers, as prolonged dry weather puts growing pressure on crops, livestock and water supplies across England.
The new support follows the driest July on record in England and Wales and comes after Burnham chaired a COBR meeting this week on the government’s response to drought, extreme heat and wildfires.
The package is intended to provide help during the current dry spell while improving farms’ ability to cope with future summers in which water supplies come under similar strain.
£65m package targets farms facing water shortages
The government said £50 million of the additional funding will go into the Sustainable Farming Incentive 2026 Window 2, taking the overall budget for that window to £290 million.
A further £15 million will support the construction of on-farm reservoirs. Ministers want to make it easier for agricultural businesses to store water when it is available and reduce their dependence on supplies during periods of drought.
Temporary changes are also being made to Environmental Land Management agreements. The measures are designed to prevent farmers from losing payments where drought conditions make it impossible to carry out previously agreed environmental work.
The government said the wider response would help farmers get water to crops, provide feed for livestock where grass has failed and strengthen resilience against future dry summers.
Burnham says food production is national security
Burnham said the government could not expect farmers to bear the consequences of increasingly difficult climatic conditions without additional support.
“Today we’re putting £65m more into supporting farmers through this drought and preparing for the summers ahead. They’re on the frontline of a changing climate and they shouldn’t be left to face it alone,” the Prime Minister said.
He added: “The ability to grow our own food is national security. I’ll treat it that way.”
The comments underline the government’s attempt to connect agricultural resilience with the wider question of Britain’s food security as farmers confront difficult growing conditions.
Reservoir rules and water access to be eased
Alongside the additional money, ministers are seeking to remove barriers that can make it harder for farmers to secure reliable water supplies.
The government plans to make the construction of agricultural reservoirs easier, while farmers with abstraction licences can seek temporary flexibility from the Environment Agency where drought conditions threaten their operations.
Measures can include changes to abstraction arrangements and earlier reservoir refilling where environmental conditions permit.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has advised farmers concerned about water availability to contact the Environment Agency early.
Comments
2 responses to “Burnham Announces £65m Drought Support for Farmers”
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A whopping £65m to keep the crops alive, eh? Just what every farmer dreams of—cash that’s about as useful as a chocolate teapot in a drought! 💸🌾
-
£65m for drought support? Brilliant! Just what every farmer dreams of—waiting for government handouts while their crops turn to dust. Next up, a rain dance competition, anyone? 🌧️💸
-
£65m for drought? Blimey, that’s like giving a goldfish a swimming pool while the rest of us are still waiting for our cups of tea! ☕️💸
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Comments
2 responses to “Burnham Announces £65m Drought Support for Farmers”
-
A whopping £65m to keep the crops alive, eh? Just what every farmer dreams of—cash that’s about as useful as a chocolate teapot in a drought! 💸🌾
-
£65m for drought support? Brilliant! Just what every farmer dreams of—waiting for government handouts while their crops turn to dust. Next up, a rain dance competition, anyone? 🌧️💸
-
£65m for drought? Blimey, that’s like giving a goldfish a swimming pool while the rest of us are still waiting for our cups of tea! ☕️💸
Burnham Announces £65m Drought Support for Farmers
London, 15 August (Eurotoday Newspaper) Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced £65 million in additional government funding for drought-hit farmers, as prolonged dry weather puts growing pressure on crops, livestock and water supplies across England.
The new support follows the driest July on record in England and Wales and comes after Burnham chaired a COBR meeting this week on the governmen
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